Schonen guten Tag meine Lieben,
Elder Hoggan hopes that everything is great on this side of the world, because things are soooo good over where he is!!! Elder Samuelson and he are seeing a lot of cool happenings in their ward that they are very thankful for. They must work on staying humble and diligent which are the keys to success! The next week should be amazing as well!
Saturday is the baptism for Karlheinz!!! Elder Hoggan attached the baptismal program at the end of his email. A friend of Karlheinz's has bone cancer and is in the hospital for six weeks. He will be covering her shift on Sundays, but still has permission from the mission president and Bishop to be baptized. He will receive the Holy Ghost on Saturday, too.
Elder Hoggan couldn't have asked for a more wonderful experience towards the end of his mission. Meetings with Karlheinz will take place every day this week. Prayers are always appreciated for those accepting the gospel.
Herr Boden is doing really well. He's cool, studying the gospel in depth, and is trying to learn all he can. He wants to be baptized, but isn't sure when to do that. He likes to do things nice and slow. Herr Boden has a strong testimony and went to church without his wife, who is a member, because she was sick.
Elder Hoggan had his second to last interview with his mission president and appreciated the one-on-one time with him. Great insight was given for Karlheinz and for finishing a mission off in the best way possible :)
An exchange took place with Elder Georgiev from Bulgaria. He and Elder Hoggan had a blast together! This missionary is hilarious and one of the few serving in the world from his country. It was a really cool opportunity.
On Sunday, a member brought a friend to church. Achmed is from Pakistan and was given a Book of Mormon in the Urdu language. Communication is a huge barrier, so their first lesson on the Plan of Salvation included drawing pictures. He's a nice guy and likes going to church. The Book of mormon will have to play a big role in his life!
After church, new investigators of the Muslim faith were taught and need some help learning German. A spiritual thought will also be shared in addition and they are looking forward to meeting with Elders Hoggan and Samuelson.
Pday will be short today, because a member is taking Steve and his companion to the Mercedes-Benz Museum on Wednesday. It's closed on Mondays. In a couple of weeks, these Elders will probably get to go to the Porsche Museum, too. They are looking forward to these awesome experiences :)
Steve's January package arrived and he sent us a picture of our aprons mailed to them :D
It was a great week in Waiblingen! Transfers took place and really good things happened with investigators and ward members.
Elder Jensen left for Wien/Vienna. Goodbyes were made before hauling his heavy bags to the train station quickly. Elder Samuelson was found and is really cool. He's from Spokane, Washington, and left for his mission two weeks after high school graduation! He was active in cross country and track which means he loves to run. Elder Samuelson has been serving for six months and Waiblingen is his second area. He's a solid guy with a positive attitude, very humble, and it will be an awesome next few weeks together.
Karlheinz is doing super well! He has had concerns, but they don't seem to be holding him back from baptism at all. One lesson was spent on answers to his questions, explaining things, and having him sincerely open up to those concerns. His baptismal service has been planned and Karlheinz has put some thought into who should do what. He trusts the ward and seems to like them.
A member's friend, Achmed, was given a brochure on Sunday. He's a Muslim and is a nice guy. Teaching him may take place in the coming weeks.
Herr Boden was at church and Elder Samuelson had the chance to teach him and get to know him better. Friday is their next appointment to meet. He is close to baptism, needs to meet with the Bishop, and continues to learn all of the doctrine!!
Things are going well for Elder Hoggan! He's very grateful for the many prayers and love.
Mach's gut diese Woche!
(Do good this week)
Elder Hoggan will stay where he is for his last transfer call. Elder Jensen is off to Vienna. Elder Samuelson will be Steve's new companion. He has a positive attitude and was trained by Elder Corey Jensen who attended Sky View with Steve.
Elder Hoggan spoke in church on Hastening the Work and different aspects of reasons why missionaries serve as they do. 1. Because of a love of God and to keep His commandments.
2. It brings joy and peace. These are feelings that naturally need to be shared. Steve promised the ward that he would continue to give it his all these next six weeks and miracles would occur. So come what may and love it!
In Sunday School, Elder Hoggan got to go with the WML and teach Karlheinz. He has concerns about what others have told him. Such as Mormons are a sect and just want his $. Karlheinz wants to be baptized and decided that he should stick with his date to do so on 31st of January.
Elder Jensen went with two brothers to teach Herr Boden during their Sunday School split. He was taught the Plan of Salvation and will be choosing a date to be baptized within the next six weeks :)
Frau Schif is having a hard time with the program to help her quit smoking. She needs prayers. Three planned appointments last week fell through, but this change brought a stop to Frau Muller which became a miracle. Contact had been lost with her for two months. The Elders tried over and over, but she was never there. An awesome lesson was had with Frau Schif and a family that does FHE for everyone in the ward/investigators who are single and over 30.
They asked her to attend their next FHE and she agreed! FHE is an awesome activity to help people get to know the church and the missionaries. Karlheinz will be there as well :)
Elder Hoggan knows that the next six weeks will never be forgotten :)
Another year has gone by. Elder Hoggan wished all of us a good "slip" into the new year as the German people would say.
A cool experience was had with Karlheinz. He had been working on Sundays for a friend that wouldn't be back until February. Miraculously, she returned and was able to cover her shift from 8-1 which meant that Karlheinz could attend church. God is a God of Miracles!
Two visit were made to Frau Schif last week. Lessons were given on baptism, the Holy Ghost, and the stop-smoking program. Frau Schif crushed her cigarettes in her hand on the count of three and hasn't smoked since Saturday! She attended church and is off to a good start, but could use additional prayers as she makes this difficult change!
New Years Eve day was rough, but that night was spent with a member family whose kids had a lot of fun lighting off "Utah fireworks". A delicious meal, Rouladen, was served. After arriving home at 9 p.m., the Elders planned and went to bed. They were awakened at 12:05 a.m. with fireworks outside of their window. It was crazy and like a war zone!
New Years Day visits were with members. Elders Hoggan and Jensen had baked cookies for Herr Boden, his wife, and another member. It paid off :) Bodens made it to church and a future lesson at their home is scheduled for this week :)
The work is going awesome and the ward is great!
Elder Hoggan closed with gratitude for the prayers and support, because he really needs them!
